It was a rare day to myself. I decided to head to the Denver Botanic Gardens and enjoy the time with the Lord. I took a bag full of stuff. I had my journal and bible but I also brought along all sorts of paperwork and things I needed to do. I was having trouble deciding where to start.
Beth (B) – I’m here Lord – with you in your Gardens – what would you have me do?
God (G) – Nothing!
B – Hmm-define that.
G – Just sit and enjoy. Just be. Walk, muse, relax, wonder at me and my creation. I love you Beth.
B – I have all this stuff in my bag.
G – I know. Give it to me. I’ll hold it. You can do later. Just be with me.
B – Ok Lord. What do you want to do Lord?
G – Be with you; enjoy you, laugh and cry. Just be. I love just being. Let’s go explore and let’s play in the gardens.
B – Ok. I love you Lord. Stay with me. I want to be with you.
G – I know. You are.
B – Lord, I just saw a fox! In Denver! Amazing Lord. Such a beautiful spot. A covered partly shaded area on this very warm and beautifully sunny day. The sound of water and crickets! Off the main walk, so private Lord, the perfect place. Construction in areas so paths blocked and meandered away from blocked area and you led me here. Feels like a picture of me, areas under construction, healing, building marriage, walking in closer relationship with you, building me. I love it here! This is so beautiful, and you are making time perfect, perfect timing with you! Anything Lord to say?
G – I love you, abundantly. I want all your heart’s desires, believe me. I want to show you who I know you are. I want you to see yourself as I see you. I see truth, love, beauty, pride, integrity, wisdom, counsel, discernment, joy, and peace. I see a woman who is my prize possession, my crown jewel, my one and only Beth. You are my delight, my dear heart, my sweet and my love. I fight for you constantly and you are worth it. You are enough, more than enough, with me you can do all things, really, Believe! I toss my head back and laugh out loud as I watch you, so full of joy and exuberance; you are so frail in the world and so strong and sturdy in me. You flourish beneath my wings, you fly high above eagles, you are a jewel of no compare, you are my treasure.
I stroke your silky hair and kiss your check, my heart exploding with love, for you are my only begotten rescued from the ashes of the fire of hell and raised up as my crowning jewel, that strong sturdy stem and beautiful red flower with gorgeous petals out of the filth of the world. (This visual of the big, beautiful, red petaled flower growing up out of the massive, barren, brown pile of filth on a long sturdy stem had been brought to my mind by the Holy Spirit years earlier. I had often reflected on it and thought about painting it. I could clearly identify in my mind’s eye and my heart with this picture of me as the flower.) The mound is high, but you have persevered and you are new in me, brand new, unrecognizable to any who knew you in the filth. You are reborn in me; you are life and love and freedom. Your spirit is free, no longer in the bondage of this world. Walk in this truth everyday; remember I Am. I Am with you. I Am in your heart. I Am your Daddy. I Am your rescuer. I Am your protector. I Am your Love. I Am. Thank you dear Beth for choosing this precious time with me.
B – Oh Lord how I ache. I am so thankful you are with me. Stay with me.
G – I will never forsake you.
B – Thank you Lord. Thank you for your love most of all, but thank you for your grace, abundant grace, and your mercy, overflowing mercy. Thank you Lord. I am a new creation in you. Thank you.
Excerpt from An Encourager’s Heart