I Can Only Imagine...

Some days.... some moments... are just surreal. Sunday morning, interpreting at church - during practice, especially - was that way. I was pretty sure my mentor was not going to be there - she had said that the night before... but sometimes that changes. Yet, I was peaceful about it. I knew God was there with me, so I would not be interpreting "alone".

It was a good set of music... I was enjoying the new song a lot at home, but during rehearsal, it was the others that caught my attention. I was first aware that there would be 'a moment' during the first verse of the first song. As I ".... crown(ed) Him Lord of all", I realized I was standing on my tippity tip-toes, reaching as high as I possible could to place the crown on His head. "You sure are big", I thought. As I considered the truth in that statement, I paused just long enough not to miss the second verse. "whoa..."

A few songs later - a song I really like - I Can Only Imagine. It was a beautiful arrangement - traditional, but there was something just a little different about it. I'd only gotten through the first line before I began to be drawn into it. By the time I was asking "will I dance for you, Jesus?", I had tears in my eyes. Not long after, as I signed the words "stand" and "presence" - as my two hands came "face to face" - I had to gasp for air and close my eyes.

They remained closed, and tears streamed down my cheeks, as we danced out the remainder of the song, God and I. My hands never missed a phrase, my mind never tried to cut in, and my heart will never forget. And, I can only imagine, I will have tears streaming down my face when we do meet "face to face".

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If you want to see this, you can see the video from the service.

Blessed Beyond My Wildest Imaginings....

I am blessed beyond my wildest imaginings.... truly. It's become my tag-line.... my personal slogan. It's the signature line under my name on my emails. It frequents my Facebook status. It is written on my heart. It is totally, totally amazing.

It was a few weeks back, when I was signing "Your grace is enough...." that the reality moved deeply into my heart. Fortunately, it was during rehearsal. As I signed "Your grace true enough. Your grace true satisfy", my heart skipped a beat - or two. When it started up again, my face was already wet from the tears that had sprung forth. My hands kept on signing, but in my ears, there was no music, only the knowing that "Your grace truly IS enough.... yet, I have been blessed with so much more..."

The first day of February.... I had eluded to some beautiful weather... hadn't anticipated it arriving on the FIRST day of February. Sure enough, it did. I arrived home from church to find that it was as warm outside as it was inside my house. My friends here are all saying "SO... that's not saying much!" (translation - my house is cold.) But 60 degrees inside AND outside, I say we open some windows and let in some fresh air! So I did.

I had the opportunity to peek at the maples and find the very beginnings of some buds. I assessed the work I have to do in the gardens. Major cleanup - and a few inspired additions - to the vegetable garden, adding some mulch to the flower beds. I made note of the continued transplantations as my yard continues to become my yard. I envisioned the addition of some more stones and the completion of a patio area, and the garden edging that will follow.

Hope. Dreams. Literally, new life. Abundant life.

I know it will be work... hard work. I don't mind hard work. I love watching it come to life and evolve. I love the process. I love the connection with God in the midst of the process, and the time to rest with Him when it is complete.

Funny the parallels in my own life. It will be work... hard work. Mostly, I don't mind the work - though honestly, often the physical labor is easier than the emotional / spiritual labor. I love the process, and I love the connection with God in the midst of it... and resting in His presence as each piece is complete.

I am blessed...Beyond my wildest imaginings....