The Twelve Hour Year: The Nineth Hour

The sun is now setting. With less than two hours left on this road, I can see the destination that God is leading me too. The destination was not the purpose – no, the purpose was the journey. But everything has to end somewhere.

Or does it? Maybe things don’t end, they just…change.

Day doesn’t end, it just changes into Night. Yes, I’m seeing my destination and it’s changing into something beautiful.

“God wants us to look toward, and then beyond the horizon.”

Indeed, Pastor Hone, I heard that.

“And I can tell you this. I have said it before and I will say it again, and again, and again, and again – times and times again.

“I will say it.

“For 2011… Everything is going to be All Right.  A new day is coming and it is here now. Everything is going to be all right. I said everything is going to be all right.”

I heard that Lord. Everything is going to be all right.

The Twelve Hour Year: High Noon

I indeed stood still these past few hours.  The sun rose and did increasingly scorch the earth beneath my feet.  But He is the shade at my right hand, my keeper.  The sun shall not strike me by day nor the moon by night…and it has been a lonely night…not in company as I am surrounded by those who love me.  But somewhere deep He placed His finger upon my heart and I have had to face myself in the mirror of His pureness, righteousness and goodness.  In yielding I have made more progress than I thought.  But now, He is moving and beckoning me on.  I am refreshed, rejuvenated.  It is noon, and God makes a promise as the noonday:

Commit your way to the Lord;

Trust in him, and he will act.

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,

And your justice as the noonday.

Psalm 37.5.6

I tuck my journal fearlessly under my arm and peer out over the land.  Time to get moving……my day is half gone.

The Twelve Hour Year: 9 O’clock AM

It’s the third hour…already 9 a.m.  It’s early still, the mist is only now lifting from the surface of the path I walk upon, the sun peeking over the mountains and warming this sometimes chilled body.  The crisp morning air in my lungs gives me strength for the next stretch…and then it will be High Noon.

He’s calling to me…“And the foundation of the thresholds shook at the voice of Him who called…”

I feel a reorganization; a subtle slowdown, if only to wait on Him to show me what’s next.  Meanwhile, as my soul rests the world whizzes by me in notes, school papers, broken pencils, chalk dust, salty ocean winds, sticky fingers and blue, blue everywhere.  He is all I’ve got.  Everything I might have is because He has brought it to me, made room for me, or shared it with me.  My Friend, how you have my heart…

I have seen many wonderful things these past few hours but the price has not been cheap.  Only in losing my life do I find His…even if only for the moment.  The sun is up on this clear day and it looks to be a beautiful one at that.  There is much to do in preparation of the coming hours…not the least of which is to pray.  Pray. Pray.

The Twelve Hour Year: 6 O’clock AM

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep.

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.”

–Robert Frost (excerpt) Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

It’s now 6 a.m. and I have about 12 hours to complete what God has sent for me to do.  At 9 a.m. I will check in with you again to let you know  what God is speaking to me…then…in 3 hours.  Until then, settle in and enjoy the pictures and stories to come.

This is going to be a wonderful season.  And I’m happy to take you along with me:)