i love it that god gives me keys and also that he asks me to give them right back away. this key was left on a door in paris. 

you will have complete and free access to god’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. [matthew 16:19]

left in my apartment window in riomaggiore, italy. 

let’s pretend for a moment that the lord is a smoker and when you stand close to him, you take in the second hand smoke of what is is inhaling and exhaling. you breathe in what he is breathing out.
god is, i imagine, not a smoker. he is a dreamer, a creator and when we stand close to him and breathe in his dreams, we begin to second hand dream. we begin to take in what hie desires and sees and is passionate about. we breathe it in and breathe it out, just like him.

i’m praying to be a second hand dreamer. 

left in a the provence region of france. 

left in vernazza, italy.

do not fear if you are lost or walking with no sight of the road ahead. you will know which way to go because the lord is leading. you will know which way to go because you have not passed this way before. 

left in montmartre district of paris.

left in paris.

left in notre dame.

left in notre dame cathedral.

post it note left in paris.

i went to a graduation where the speaker used this quote to illustrated her point on the value of learning, but the lord gave me a fresh word from what she said.
what we love really does become who we are.
that’s why paul said that the love of christ compelled him.
love became him. christ in him. christ transforming him. christ alive.

i left this post.it.note in the virginia highlands burrough of atlanta after letting it sink in for a few days what it meant to really love the lord and then let him make something in you. when we love the lord, we join his suffering and his glory. it would be impossible to join him in his glory alone. in suffering, our relationship is made perfect.

so, in the end…i believe that its worth it.
love the lord.
let yourself be compelled by him. 

god. i want to delight in you. i want life to spring forth from our relationship. i believe that there is greater intimacy everyday with you.

moses told the lord that if his presence would not go with the israelites, they didn’t not want the journey. they did not want to pass in front of the presence of god or beyond it. they wanted to be in the midst of his presence because his presence is what brings life. moses was looking towards the promised land, but his eyes were focused on the glory of the lord. the land made no difference to him if the lord’s presence would not be there.

i’m praying into this, praying into this desire to see the promised land of my life and of people around me. it is entirely too easy to become focused on the promises of god rather than on god himself, his ability to redeem rather that his love towards us and out response toward him. no matter the promises, i don’t want them if god’s presence is not there with me.
without his presence, all things exist without meaning.
sanctify my mind god…that i may desire your spirit more than your works, your love more than your promises.
teach me to not walk beyond you, but to stay in the midst of where you are.