Laying it on the Altar

Fear Is In His Hands - Hannah Hurnard 

I said, "I can't stop being afraid."

"I'll teach you, Hannah," He said.  

Once, as I was looking out the train window during a train trip,

I saw a field covered with lovely fruit trees.

In the middle was a huge scarecrow and on his arms,

five birds were perched.

The Lord said to me, "Hannah, there are

foolish birds and wise birds. The foolish birds

are frightened by scarecrows and they fly away.

But wise birds know that all the best fruit grows

close to a scarecrow. When they see one,

they chuckle with joy and fly straight there

to find the best fruit.

"Your fears are like a scarecrow.

If you put your hand in mine and go up

to every scarecrow, you'll always find

lovely blessings."

And so I sit here - trying to write this blog and wanting to reach for God's hand as I try to face the scarecrow lurking in front of me...because, I know that the blessings are waiting for me; so, I want to face the fear. Why is this so hard? And, if this is so hard, why do I feel like I even need to share my heart? Where is God leading me on this familiar, yet unfamiliar, path?

One of my favorite books is "Hinds' Feet on High Places" by Hannah Hurnard. I relate to the main character, Much-Afraid, as she travels to the high places where she can forever dwell with the Shepherd. She learns along the journey, though it is sometimes difficult and lonely, to make an altar of her fears so God can transform those things by love into things of beauty.  Along her journey she builds many altars to remind herself of the Shepherd's goodness. These are the lessons she has learned as she surrenders her heart to the journey.

"...He remarked quietly that the important thing about altars was that they made possibilities of apparent impossibilities..." - Hinds' Feet on High Places

I, too, am like Much-Afraid. God continues to teach me to build an altar at the hard places in my life with a heart of thanksgiving. I continue to learn that He transforms a grateful heart in the most astonishing ways. He turns fear into faith, lack into bounty, rough stones into precious jewels.

The Shepherd laughed too. "I love doing preposterous things," he replied. "Why, I don't know anything more exhilarating and delightful than turning weakness into strength and fear into faith and that which has been marred into perfection." -  Hinds' Feet on High Places

So, I am building an altar at this place and holding on tightly to the Shepherd's hand as I embark once more on this blogging journey, I pray this blog is a safe place, a thoughtful place and a helpful place. A place where I can show God's love and be a witness to others of His transforming grace.

"Whenever you are willing to obey me Much-Afraid and to follow the path of my choice, you will always be able to hear and recognize my voice and when you hear it you must always obey. Remember, also, that it is always safe to obey my voice, even if it seems to call you to paths which look impossible or even crazy." - Hinds' Feet on High Places

Much like the Shepherd's love transformed Much-Afraid to Grace and Glory I can't wait to see how His love transforms me!

P.S. Read the book. It will change your life!

Photo by Peggy Chmelicek