Sanctuary

Sometimes it takes a while for something to hit you in the face.  Sometimes you see it, it hits you, and you walk on.  And then it hits you again.

And again.

And again.

Then your head spins.

Sanctuary.

I entered church through the back door and up the stairs.  The door was closed to the sanctuary.  And there was the sign:

"Sanctuary."

I've probably been through that door many times but that day I stopped.   Sanctuary.  A place of safety.  A place of security.  A place to be held in the arms of God.  I took a photo.  That's what I do to remember.

Our nephew contacted us about a church he is helping to plant in the Washington, DC area.   A church in the midst of sojourners from every nation.  A place to learn about God's love for all people.  A sanctuary.

Three weeks later I'm in the nail salon having my nails done.  The most unlikely place to have God speak about sanctuary--but there on the tv, no sound--close captioned, was a show about churches across the country giving sanctuary to those seeking shelter in our country.  Over and and over as I watched, the word appeared again and again.   Sanctuary.  I don't know what show it was--I searched once I was home and couldn't find anything about it.  But it touched my heart.  Sanctuary.  God didn't say we are to close our doors but to open them.  God didn't say we are to worry about the sojourners taking our jobs but to help them.  We are to be sanctuary.

And now the song is playing over and over in my head:

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You

It is you, Lord
Who came to save
The heart and soul
Of every man
It is you Lord
Who knows my weakness
Who gives me strength,
With thine own hand.

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and Holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving I'll be a living
Sanctuary for you

Lead Me on Lord
From temptation
Purify me
From within
Fill my heart with
You holy spirit
Take away all my sin

Lord prepare me to ba sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You

I don't know how or where--but prayer is that God will allow me to be a living Sanctuary for Him.

Why God Made Those Fly Over States

Jason Aldean has a beautiful song out right now called "Fly Over States."   It is about some guys on a flight across the U.S. looking down on the middle of our country--looking down at the "fly over states."    Those of us from Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, etc.--we've all been on the receiving end of the pitying comments from our coastal friends--poor, poor, pitiful us for having to suffer the deprivation of living where it is brown, flat & nothing to look see (or at least that is their opinion).  If they only knew....

   

"On the plains of Oklahoma
With a windshield sunset in your eyes
Like a water colored painted sky
You'll think heavens doors have opened
You'll understand why God made
Those fly over states."

Last night God finger-painted the sky.   I think He looked down on these fly-over states and smiled.