Live, damnit, live!!

For a few months now, I've been feeling like I needed to be prepared to "speak life". I was drawn to a chapter in Ezekiel, where he was called to prophesy to dry bones. He stands before a valley of bones and prophesies that they will once again be attached to tendons, flesh and skin - and that God would breathe life into them. Then he is called to prophesy to the wind to breathe life into the bones. When the bones come alive, they stand united as a large army. These bones are a picture of Israel's dead hope, and separation from God.
Ezekiel 37:14 " I will put my Spirit in you and you will live..."
As I've prayed about my place in all this, I've come to a startling realization that we are surrounded by "dead people". People who have yet to know Christ, and people who know who He is, but are walking around like zombies, thinking they are alive, but have yet to experience God's living breath. There are a million different ways this scenario can be played out, but I think there are people and places who need an infusion of God's breath every single day. Some of them are as simple as a friend who needs an encouraging word reminding them that they are loved, more deeply today, by God, than by any other at any other moment in time. Others will be "touch and go", and the situation will be desperate, there won't be time for intimidation - I will have to be ready and willing to speak the truth of God's living Spirit.
I'm reminded of tv moments where someone is not breathing, the situation is dire - the Dr. becomes angry (partly because they are afraid the person may be lost, and partly because they have done all they know to do) - Resuscitation begins, and as the Dr. pounds on the patient's chest, he screams "live! Damnit, live!". Appropriate or not, this is the desperation I'm feeling. A burden for those who are in "critical condition" whether they recognize it or not.
" So, I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them."
..."This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live."Ezekiel 37:7-9

Now Is The Time!

This last month went by so fast! From Ella's birth to Grace's 3rd birthday then Easter - where did the time go? Whenever you have a baby, older people will say "it goes by so fast" - and you smile and nod, as if you were really listening. But it really does.

Time is moving forward whether we're ready for it or not, and I find myself caught up in the daily "stuff" way too often. I am sitting around wondering, pondering, questioning what chore I need to do next, instead of looking at the big picture of life.
Whether my kids eat PB&J or T-Bone steak, in the long run it's most important that they know and follow Christ - and are a part of a family where trusting God and following His lead are our top priority.

This is a song we've been singing at church - I think it conveys my thoughts a lot more clearly:

The winds are blowing through again, so we must follow.
A people daring to believe, we can change tomorrow,
And be the miracle of light and we won't give up the fight.

Now is the time for us to shine
Shine with the face of Christ Divine.
No compromise, for all of heaven cries,
Now is the time.

The river's running through again rejuvenating,
For everything you touch you change,
And we've all been changing.
We're a city on a hill
Tell the world you're shining still
Tell this world you always will

Now is the time..

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, King of Lights
Jesus, Jesus, raise a church that's shining bright

I want to follow but what does it mean,
To live in this world and keep everything clean.
Nothing I own here is ever my own,
When I live in the mercy and blessing you've shown.
I lay down my rights; see the world through your eyes,
And fight for the hungry who pay for our lives
I want to have you in all of my world
So, Jesus, consume me, flow through me, cos now is the time...

Written by Delirious?/Matt Redman c2005 Curious? Music/UK