Backyard BBQ

 

A couple years ago I had a dream that a man was at my house barbecuing. In my dream I knew he had been at my house previously. As I handed him meat for the grill my eye caught a rotten, old piece on the plate. I had forgotten to give it to him the week before! It had sat out all week and looked disgusting. The more I looked at the meat, the more ashamed I felt. I took a towel and hid the rancid ration. As the man walked toward me I unveiled my error but to my surprise he took it and reassured me, “It’s okay, I can still use it.” Then he came close and kissed me. Suddenly I was overwhelmed by kindness. It was so deep I woke up crying with a repeating thought, “Everyone needs to experience this kindness.”

 

It didn’t take me long to realize that this was the same One who blocked my path in the desert 20 years ago when I had run away angry and hurt and scared. The same One who spoke tenderly to me and gave me a gift. His kindness led me to trust Him. His kindness draws me in and calls me higher. His kindness is unafraid of my mistakes. He doesn’t punish because He took the punishment for everything that hinders love upon Himself. He IS love. He can use any mess up great or small; He can even make it beautiful.

 

  Jesus. Yeshua. High Priest. Immanuel. Bread of Life. Lord. 

 

BBQing with Jesus is not a one time event. Not long after this encounter I had the opportunity to lay down my most precious treasures on the altar, all the things I had clung to. Dreams for my marrage and my family. Security. Inheritance. Time. It felt like death. I had taken some things into my own hands, made my home in a cruel lover, and had strayed from His perfect will in my life. I didn't realize I was holding onto something that was keeping me captive, like an animal ensnared in a trap refusing to let go of the prize. But His kindness led me to repentance. I laid my valuables at the altar. Compared to Christ they looked like costume jewelry, plastic! Jesus replaced them with precious stones and led me back Home. The end became the beginning.

 

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also... If there's anything you're holding onto today, I invite you to open your hands and let go. Lift the towel of shame. Surrender. Allow Him to be the giver of gifts. To exchange the plastic for the precious. His gifts are good and won't spoil for they have eternal value. Allow Him to reset the standard.

 

Everything we have is His.

 

Not just part but all. We are designed for oneness, for a wedding vow.

 

Everything He has is ours.

 

"Do the riches of his extraordinary kindness make you take him for granted and despise him? Haven’t you experienced how kind and understanding he has been to you? Don’t mistake his tolerance for acceptance. Do you realize that all the wealth of his extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you into repentance?" Romans 2:4 TPT