"He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." John 1:11
I had dinner tonight with a dear sister of mine at On the Border. I have been blog-frozen for a bit, and I must confess that I miss you ladies. My lack of online life has been due partly to the fact that I have been moving, and my room still looks like a tornado hit it. The other half is because I am unable to articulate the burden God has placed on my heart. I don't know if I just wasn't feeling well tonight, or I finally gave heed to this burden, but after a good round of chips and salsa, I couldn't even touch my en tree. You know when I pass up my Mexican, something is troubling me. I sat and listened to the season of intense suffering that God has allowed this precious one to experience. And to paraphrase her situation, 'her own has received her not.'
Received not...received not...received not. I know there are far more intense tragedies to be listed, but this one touches at a core and tender area of who I am, and thus who Christ has fashioned me to become. Though application is possible for expansion, I'm going to speak to this particular instance of parental rejection if I may.
Dear 'rejected' one, cry out to your El Roi who sees the wounded state of your fatherless (motherless) soul. The One who has promised to bottle your tears knows what it is like to have come into His own, and His own receive Him not. You have yet to hear your Daddy say 'I love you.' You have yet to earn your mother's acceptance. You have yet to be a 'delight' to them. Your undeniable spiritual passion for Christ alone is deemed a mockery, lie, and of ignorance. You have been threatened, ignored, ridiculed, abandoned, and wounded. You have been forsaken, disillusioned, disappointed, and teased. You have been emotionally orphaned, (if not more), left, and isolated. You have been forsaken by your mother and father.
And yet you have been received by your God. (Psalm 27). You have been offered the privilege to enter into the fellowship of His sufferings. You have been deemed the apple of His eye. Your spiritual heart has heard 'I love you' by the beautiful scandalous act of His death. You have been accepted into the Beloved. Your undeniable spiritual passion for Christ alone is powerful, honoring, glorifying, truth, and of resounding Kingdom impact. You have been chosen, rejoiced over, blessed, set apart, called, and approved. You are beautiful, holy, and a righteous daughter of the King. You house the very Presence of The Living God. Indeed, you are of great worth.
You belong to Christ. You...child...belong...to Christ. You belong...
The One who has spoken the stars into being has whispered your name. The hands pierced by a nail have your very name written on them. The One who has fashioned your being together is dancing over you (Zephaniah 3:17). You are deeply, unconditionally, and tenaciously loved.
Climb into the lap of the One who knows the most rejection of us all...and touch the scars.
12 comments:
Oh gosh, I just cried reading that. Thank you. Eating with you was such a joy---I can't begin to tell you my heart of gratitude for you taking the time to listen to my heart.
If there is anything too wonderful in this world, it's Him.
Thank you for delivering that reminder.
Oh, how I rather be the child who cries b/c I don't want to let go of Him than the one that smiles in repression of emotion to the world.
I love you so much. Jesus delights more in you than you'll ever know! Extol His name!
Shelly,
My heart aches for your dear friend. As a parent, I can not imagine, as a child, my heart will not let me fathom.
But, Praise the Lord that we do not have to be sorrowful in the heartaches of this world. HIS LOVE IS SUFFICIENT.
What a gift He has blessed upon you. You are truly a woman after God's own heart.
You remain in my prayers. Please keep in touch.
Blessings,
Lisa
(Your "Lucy" pal)
14 Zion says, “The Lord has abandoned me;
The Lord has forgotten me!”
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
or lack compassion for the child of her womb?
Even if these forget,
yet I will not forget you.
16 Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Isaiah 49:14-16 HCSB
"Even if these forget, yet I will not"........my heart breaks for your friend. Praise God she has you to remind her of how much she is loved. Every time the MOST HIGH GOD raises his hands HE sees her name.
In Him,
Kelly
Shelly,
I so agree with you. I just had dinner with a friend last week and she was talking about how her parents think she is a "Jesus freak". I led her in some of the same conversation.
It is so important for us to encourage each other. Satan wants to discourage us anyway he can. We have to remember that satan has lost and we are victorious through Christ.
We stand firm in Christ and His truth.
Love ya sista,
Kim
I needed this tonight! Bless you and your friend! You may not remember me, but we have emailed a couple times back and forth. I check your blog and I love your writings. This really hit home. I can relate to your friend...but the love that God has for us is amazing. Thank you for the reminder!!
Shel,
O.K. now I am nicknaming you. This post was so good for me. I have so many wonderful friends. I grew up abandoned by our first father and then grew up in an EXTREMELY abusive home. I didn't understand why I had to go through all that I did but the things that wounded me became servants to me. They were perfect setups for me to have the One and Only. I was having a pity party last night because I have such a sweet daughter and my fam has nothing to do with her which is fine with me...they are missing out. But the fact is I don't have any support when I am so sick. I had to go back in the hospital today and the Lord totally provided for me. I can just say I have been through the family issues and it has made me stronger. Now I am like Leah who was unloved by her husband but I know that God sees me and He will bring me through this to. Life can be so hard. I want to be the parent to Morgan that I never had. Sadly, some people are so handicapped in their hearts that they just don't have it to give.
My email address is williams4676@bellsouth.net
Shelly,
This a WOW post, a healing Word from God! Girl, you are such an amazing young woman of God. It does an older woman's heart good! I was so touched by your sweet worship of our Faithful God at Boone and I am deeply filled with compassion for your friend. I know what this is like, not from my rejection of my father but of the rejection my boys have from their father. To be rejected because they love God is hard to take for a young boy and now that they are teenagers, they still seek the love and acceptance of their father. One verse I have pounded into their hearts is that God, is a Father to the Fatherless. God meets all of our needs, no matter what we face in life and you are so right, climb into the Father's lap who knows rejection the most! May God bless your sweet friend and fill the void in heart and also help her to realize how much she is loved!
Have a blessed day!
I might just print this out and hang it by my bed. :)
Girl, your writing never ceases to encourage me!! I hope you know that.
HUGS from Houston!!
P.S. We have missed you too!!!
Hi Shelly,
My name is Tammy and I am from Hudson, Wisconsin. This is my first time responding to your blog and I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your entries. You have been a blessing to me. I printed off your last entry for a friend of mine and I know that will be an encouragement to her. Thank you for taking the time to write and encourage us ALL.
Bless YOU.
Tammy
Thank you for encouraging me Tammy. Blessings...and may our Comforter be ever near to your friend.
I understand, Dear One. When we moved to Colorado, my parents said they'd never visit and they don't call. It's as if I have lost them completely. all I can do is exactly what you have written...POUR.IT.OUT to Him. He is faithful and has been faithful and will be faithful. You are precious, Shelly! One thing that occured to me about my journey with my parents...what if the situation I'm in with them will make an eternal difference? If that is so, then I will continue to walk this thing out...trusting Him for a better good.
Love and prayers,
Holly
PS Come on and see us sometime!
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