“Come out from among them and be separate…”

As a child growing up in an African home, one of the times I swallowed advice with open heart and ears, were those moments where I had “disgraced my mother outside” by eating the food offered to me at her best friends house! And having endured the swift pulling of my “disgracefully hungry mouth that has never eaten jollof rice and chicken before” once her friend walked back into the kitchen, I would then silently nibble the now tasteless food anticipating the beating I was going to get at home.

On those rare occasions I can remember, my mother would call me to her room! And just when I walked in, hands crossed, full bladdered and pulse dead, she would say.  

“Sit down, let me talk to you.”

                          ——————-

Why do you want to eat from the world My child? Blending in trying to be a perfect fit? 

What can she offer you that isn’t Mine? The cattle on a thousand hills, the stars and seas.

Do you  really trust in Me? Is My promise, My  gift not enough for you?

What more must I give up to make you see? That if the world finds pleasure in you, it is because in you she doesn’t see Me.

Why are you afraid to stand alone? Why do you cry to Me and grope for answers elsewhere. 

Have I not loved you with an everlasting love?

Come my child let us reason together. My plan is not to leave you in despair it is not just to soak you in trials, but to cleanse and purify, through it all I will always be there. 

In the fire before you come, in the fire to see you through, in the fire as you grow from glory to glory, It is I! I promised! Have you forgotten? Truth CANNOT lie.  I know how it ends, it is why I Am here. 

Come to Me my child, I see your burden. The one you hide and still cry out “holy”, the one you justify by a thousand good deeds, the one you silently blame on others as though their absence will set you free, open up your heart, show Me where it hurts, I Am here to heal you, I Am here to deliver. This journey was never meant to be for one man alone, let me guide you, let me keep you, let me literally change your heart, lighten your burden, let me do My part. 

It is for this purpose alone I came to this earth, this purpose alone makes me suffer long. If you will only dare to lay All down and turn to me All the pain, the despair, guilt and shame, expectations, beautiful lies, dreams and hopes, good and evil, the mixtures of this tree that creates necessary evils. 

I Am Life Source, I will Sustain You. 

It is not my wish that you stand in Egypt and claim CANAAN’s promises with your lips alone, I Am not with you in Egypt to prosper you in her ways but to bring you Out! I will journey through this wilderness with you, this dryness in your soul, you will never be alone, you win because I won. I walk with you through this valley until we both come out One, I Am not ashamed, I Am not disgusted, I Am not tired, I have come that you might have Life. 

I Love You

It is True

Will You Trust Me?