I’m alone at home now.  Everyone is out.  And I’m totally “unplugged.”

No television. No radio. No phone.  Just me and the Lord…a warm swath of late afternoon sun shining on my bed…and this silence. This glorious, healing pool of silence I’m floating in.

This is heaven.

Heaven is sitting in the Presence of the Lord, in utter repose and silence before Him. It is food for the soul. And the only place of rapturous peace.

When all the noise of the world is suddenly shut off and I am alone with God like this, it is not unlike the boat that has been through a violent storm, tossed to and fro, but once the raging stops and the storm stills, the vessel calms itself once again on the glassy water.

I am that boat. And the boat has ceased rocking. The endless clamor and tumult of voices have been silenced. And only the silent sun, cheerfully pouring through my window now, speaks. Speaking to my heart of God’s comforting Spirit.

Here comes joy.  Here comes peace.

I had no idea how desperately I needed this silence. But clearly I did need it, because I am drinking it up now like some thirsty desert traveler who has just happened upon a lifesaving well of cold water.

In this place of silence I am aware that I am finally released to listen fully to God’s heart because my own heart’s attention is no longer fragmented. Instead, all my senses are open to His heartbeat, and it is pure heaven.

Thank you Lord for sacred silence.

“And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.’  For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.   And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.” ~ Mark 6:31-32 [RSV]

^“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” ~ Matthew 11:28-29 [KJV]

“…the Lord is in his holy temple:  let all the earth keep silence before him.” ~ Habakkuk 2:20 [KJV]

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My husband got called out of a deep sleep the other night.  He was on call at the local hospital and while he slept soundly, in the middle of the night, his cell suddenly rang, and the voice on the other end of the line urged, “Come in, Steve…we need you.” 

Immediately, my husband rose up out of bed…answering the call.

Just hours later, the Lord spoke to my heart:

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“I am here on call.  Just like Steve answered the call…I too am ready to get up and go to work whenever you call, Cinnie.  I am here RIGHT BESIDE YOU…I AM ON CALL…

WHAT DO YOU NEED?“

Wow.  Are you kidding me?  Think of it!  A personal invitation from the Creator of the universe, announcing:

“I AM ON CALL.  WHAT DO YOU NEED?”

Blessed my socks right off.  Sure did.

I needed wisdom on a matter.  And I said, “Well, Lord, I’m sure You already know what I’m going to ask You.” To which He replied:

“Go ahead anyway.  It helps to articulate it.”

Now I don’t know about you, but for me this is probably what blesses me the very most. In this crazy, fast-paced world, where we relate to people on the fly…where virtual relationships have all but superseded genuine, sit-down, face-to-face, heart-to-heart REAL conversation and fellowship …yes, in the midst of an all-things-virtual world, I still can count on a heavenly Father Who:

ALWAYS has time for me.

ALWAYS welcomes my call.

ALWAYS listens with His great big heart.

And when I do talk to my awesome Dad — guess what?  Wow.  Somehow, someway, inexplicably I have His undivided attention. 

Every time.

And so do you, my friend.  So do you.

So how ’bout it?

God is on call.  Right now.  For you.  And He asks:

“WHAT DO YOU NEED?”

Go ahead.  Tell Him.  Sure, He already knows.  But go ahead anyway.  It helps to articulate it.  🙂

I know.  Cuz it sure helped me.

God bless,

“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” 

~ Isaiah 65:24 [KJV]

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

~ Psalm 34:18 [NIV]

“For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon Him?”

~ Deuteronomy 4:7 [ESV]

This morning I leaned my head against the bed post, closed my eyes, and quieted my heart before the Lord.  This was “our” time together.  Just the two of us — no interruptions.  Always my favorite time of the day.

Suddenly a surprising question bubbled up in my spirit:

“Will you marry Me?”

Much like Peter who was perplexed and even troubled when the Lord asked him if he loved Him, I confess I was equally perplexed.  But like the fish to the sparkling lure, the question drew me in.  And I responded:

“Lord, I don’t really know what to make of this question. You know my heart.”

He answered:

“When a man asks the question, ‘Will you marry me?’ there is never a question as to what it means.  It is quite obvious, is it not?  Why, then, is it a mystery when the God of the universe, and your Maker asks you, ‘Will you marry Me?’  The question is not a mystery.  Only the answer is. 

“Will you marry Me?” He repeated.

“Yes, Lord! A million times ‘Yes’!” my heart cried out to Him. “I will marry You with all my heart and go wherever You go, I know that is a naive answer said so fast but it is my heart, it is my true heart, and though I may falter and weaken when I am asked to die for You [though even that I don’t believe I would falter on] I still say with confidence, yes, my Dear Beloved, it is my heart’s cry to say, ‘YES! I will certainly marry You!”

And the Spirit immediately responded:

“Then come to Me regularly and meet with Me in private, as husbands and wives do.  Let me whisper words of love in your ear that will sustain you when the heat rises, and comfort you when terror strikes.  I am drawing you in close to Me, gentle one, to keep you safe.  I am drawing you in, wooing you in like the lover of your soul that I am.  Let me love you.  Let me guard you.  Be My Bride.  From this day forward.”

“But Lord, I thought we were already married…that’s why I’m struggling with this exchange.”

“We have been ‘one’ for a long time, that is true.  But now I ask you again, no different than when a man and wife of many years renew their wedding vows.  ‘Will you marry me?’ the man asks his wife of so many years, with tears in his eyes as they both recall the long rough road of life they have traveled together and the love they have shared on that rugged path.  And the wife, who delights to see the tear of love in her man’s eyes, responds gleefully, joyfully, ‘Oh yes! I will marry you — all over again!’

“Just so…this is a Day to renew your vows to your Lord.  And to confirm yourself in the Way of Truth.  For I am Truth.  And when you renew your marriage vow to Me, you acknowledge that I alone am Truth, and you promise to forsake all others…all imitations of the Truth…all lies…all half measured allegiance…all compromise.  You promise to cling to only One.  Your True Love.  Your God.  Your Maker.  Me.

“For I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

“”YES Lord,” I answered. “Today I renew my wedding vow to You.  And I stand on this word, this vow, that I am Yours, Yours alone. And I love You and You alone, and I promise to forsake all others…because You ARE the Truth.  And I love the Truth.  Amen, and amen.”

Friend, this is the precise exchange that happened between me and the Lord this very morning when I sought Him for Heaven’s Headline of the day. So I am confident this is the question heavy on His heart not just for me…but for all who call themselves by His name.

“Will you marry Me?”

It appears the Lord is saying, “This is the hour to choose.”

God bless you then, beloved, as you meet with your Maker to give Him your heart’s reply.

“For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called.” ~  Isaiah 54:5 KJV