“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
– Matthew 3:2

How do I even begin to describe the beaten path I have walked to get here…
Well, I guess I could say that I’ve been up, down and all around! I’ve been sick, sicker, sickest, and in rare moments, even healthy. There are many colors / shades / shadows to my story, and they have all led me to this very moment. All this time, God has been steady and strong in His calling; gently whispering in my ear,

It is time…

Time for what??!!

Today, I can hear Him; steady and sweet in His tone:

It is time,
You now have the time.
Time on your knees,
Time in worship…
It is time!

For me, I know He means it is time for me to finally write my story. To hand Him the pen and let Him have the control. God planted the seed in my heart a long time ago to write this blog. And this past Friday, I know He was telling me to step out in faith (even with my doubts and constant insecurities) and just START!!!

For years now, God has been slowly preparing me to record the past / present / future seasons of my life; the blood, sweat and almost constant tears of my journey. Which includes the many unlovely sides of me that are not easy to share. However, God has made it clear that NOW is the time! It is time to be disciplined, vulnerable, and obedient to His call. So His light can shine through the miracle of my life…

“The battle line is drawn
it’s all in black and white
Hope is going forward
and fear from behind
It’s time

It’s time to make a move
So what will you decide?
The clock is ticking on
Don’t let it pass you by
It’s time
It’s time”

There is so much to share! It is intimidating and overwhelming just to decide where to even begin. Some of you know me well, maybe some of you reading don’t know me at all. Part of me wishes I were writing a novel instead, so I could skip or rewrite many chapters to avoid showing my many stumbles and tumbles in public. But the simple truth of my life is that the Lord brings victory every day I open my eyes and every second my heart keeps beating. I treasure what a gift it is to be aware / mindful / concious of that fact; to fully acknowledge that He is blessing me every single day that I live! Would I feel this way if I had not been at death’s door so many times in the past? If I had not spent countless nights, literally on my knees, face to the ground, BEGGING God to let me live to raise my daughter… would I still be aware that time is truly the most precious commodity we have? It cannot be bought, sold, traded or negotiated. We cannot add even a single second to our time here on earth. And once it is gone, there is no way to get it back.

But with this rich understanding of the beauty of time we are given, also comes the weight of the flip side of that coin. The deep sadness and guilt of knowing that I have wasted SOOOOO much time! And on what??!! Time chasing my own desires, my own foolishness, or just plain being stuck and afraid. For me, the honest truth is I have wasted a great deal of time trying to escape, force or “will” myself out of pain. So many years of my life have been a roller coaster of emotions / fears / temptations; some things I never expected to struggle with. It has taken me almost 40 years to come to an attitude of acceptance that the Lord’s calling for me is to suffer. My body longs for comfort I cannot simply find in this life. Yet it is for this reason that He is calling me to spread His joy! It is time to set aside my ego and my need to hide my pain, and let His light shine! Even in the heat and intensity of pain. We will all feel pain in one way or another, at some point in our lives, or even for all of our lives. That is why I know it is high time to actively encourage and lift up the body of Christ as we press on together; especially in such uncertain / unpredictable / uneasy times!

“It’s time to hold your shield
It’s time to draw your sword
Let’s be the resistance
Oh Lord, Oh Lord, Oh Lord
It’s time
It’s time

The time is now for lifting souls
The time is now for letting go
From your skin to your core
Let light and love
come rushing through the door”

One of the many things I love about God is how He steals my attention through repetition. When God gives me a theme, He tends to make it very obvious and it shows up everywhere! He knows I am slow and stubborn. As my Dad says, “He knows we are sheep, and He is the Shepherd!” He knows we need multiple reminders and continued guidance. He is patient and persistent as He points us in the right direction. He often does this to me through music and worship. Worship is really the soundtrack of my life. Phil Wickham is one of my all-time favorite Christian artist’s. In this current season of chaos, his song, “The Time is Now,” has been heavy on my heart and has been playing on repeat in my mind. This is no coincidence, as this is the same theme the Lord has been whispering to me over and over…

As I watch all that is happening in our world, as I walk into the distressing unknown of the future, I catch myself becoming apprehensive and afraid of each new day. But even when things appear to be spiraling out of control (in the world or in my own life, or even both!) l am swiftly reminded by the Spirit to fall into the safety of my Savior’s arms. He never fails to drown my fear with His everlasting love, and gives my soul the true comfort and peace I long for. I don’t have to be shocked and anxious as He has already made it clear:

“For the present form of this world is passing away.”
– 1 Corinthians 7:31

It is happening right in front of our eyes. As a daughter of the King, I know full well that this world is not my home. This is why I can walk into whatever tomorrow may hold, knowing my greatest hope, my Lord and His Holy Word, will never change and never pass away!

“All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
– 1 Peter 1:24-25

As I ponder all of these things, and let the words and melody of this song wash over my tired mind, I feel led to ask these questions:

What is God whispering in your ear?
What souls is He wanting to lift through you?
What is it time for you to let go of?
While today is still today, will you choose to listen to His call?

“Sisters, brothers
Thieves and lovers
Come uncover eternity
Turn your faces from finite places
Heaven’s grace will set you free

The time is now for lifting souls
The time is now for letting go
From your skin to your core
Let light and love come rushing through the door

It’s time to make a stand
To put your heart in greater hands
From your skin to your core
Let light and love come rushing through the door”

Look at the world around us! The time is NOW!!! There are so many souls and so many hurting people who need God’s light and His love to come rushing through their door. That happens through His body / His believers / His followers – those who are willing to make a stand! Those who will reach out with helping hands, those who will open our mouths to share our hope; all while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus!

I hope the Lord uses this song to bless and encourage you today. I am praying we will all be bold and brave as we step out in faith and raise our swords! If you are here reading this, it is not by chance. Know there is a reason and He is calling you as well…

“For He says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
– 2 Corinthians 6:2

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