Suspended! My heart did extra beats as I opened the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) envelope seeing the words in big bold capitalized letters, “NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUSPEND”. Unbelief raced through my mind with questions, what and why, is my license being suspended. I breathed a sigh of relief upon pulling the letter out discovering it was suspending the vehicle registration on a scooter. My daughter had moved and could not take it with her so it had been stored in my garage. She needed funds and planned to sell it; I thought I would buy it to help her out and that it just might be fun to putter around town on it, not to mention the gas savings.
With paperwork in hand I went to DMV to inquire if any different rules from state she had lived in, just to make certain I did everything legit. I discovered the laws varied from where she had been, there the scooter was not required to be licensed before driven on the road, in California it is. So I started the registration process but was unable to finish, since it had not been registered in the other state the dealers bill of sale was not acceptable. To make a few months story short, it took three visits to DMV, two dealings with the local sheriff, dealer contact for Manufacturer Certificate of Origin, and more.
When I first started the process I contacted my insurance carrier to discover they don’t insure scooters, I would have to look elsewhere. When the scooter was finally registered, I was then told I would need a motorcycle license; again not required in former state. By this time I was frustrated with everything and thought of just selling it. I considered taking pictures so I could put it on Craig’s List, but getting insurance had long slipped my mind…that is until the letter arrived today.
As I contemplated the whole rigmarole I thought, wouldn’t it be nice if I slipped and forgot spiritual things that I would get reminders, then I could take action to get back on course. Quickly following that I thought, perhaps I do, but I won’t know about them if I don’t open the Book. If I had set the DMV letter unopened on my desk, I would not have known my error; ignorance of DMV’s instructions wouldn’t get me out of the consequences. Likewise, if I don’t open the Bible to read the letters inside I could be missing important details, some with dire consequences. Comparatively, if I did not open a letter informing me of an inheritance or an award I could claim, I would be missing out on what was rightfully mine; again likewise, God’s word is full of treasures and benefits that are for me (and you), here and now, but I won’t know about them until I open the Letter and read it.
Psalm 103:2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits –
A standard, as you set the standards of your life may they be based on My holy word; words that bring life and preserve it, words that set you on the right path leading to my door. Set standards for all areas of life; let them be high and uncompromising in the face of temptation and adversity. Let love be at the core and them be in harmony with Me. It’s not just about avoiding wrongs, the evils in life, but living well with a heart after me.
Write it, write it big, don’t let it out of your sight, keep the vision clear. Voice it, let it take life. Don’t hide the dream under a basket, don’t put it into the back of the closet , bring it out into the light. Life and dreams flourish in the Light. Let faith and hope arise once more, don’t let fear crowd it out, or shame throw a blanket over it, hold them up to Me. Let Me breathe life into them. Hold tight to the desires of your heart, don’t let them slip through your fingers. Don’t let the logical and reasonable steal your unfettered childlike faith that all things are possible in Me.
Louis Armstrong did a song titled “What A Wonderful World”. You may look around and say “seriously”, do you not see the smog, the clutter, the news covered with crime, terrorism, reports of disasters, heart breaking stories, and gloomy predictions?
My child. I call you my child because you are, you are one I tenderly watch over , caring about your every need, nurturing you, teaching and guiding you. I know you intimately, better than you know yourself. I watch over you knowing every tear you shed, being right there with you in all the joys and sorrows in life. I listen to each prayer, the spoken and of the heart. I know your failures and love you just the same. I know your deepest desires and search of me. My precious child know I am here with you, I am for you, desiring the best for my beloved child. The best is not always as you plan, I hope you will trust me in all situations, even when it takes a leap of faith to do so. I love you, I always have and always will, you are special to my heart, one I take delight in. Rest in, me, cast all your cares upon me for I care about you. I am your good Father, you are my precious and beloved child.
d would have you think there are alternate methods for Me, like a tanning bed and grow light replace the real sun. There is only one true God, only one way to Me, there are no substitutions for me or alternate ways to me. Nothing can touch and impact your life like my living presence. Do not be deceived by false promises and cheap imitations. There is a cost for the real deal, but the return on a genuine relationship with Me is priceless.
, listen to my words – the sound of my voice, give ear to me. My words are life giving and to be lived by. Guard your heart, keep it free from the world’s pollution; many things you encounter may seem harmless when in fact they are like a fine dust coating, which given time builds up dulling the shine and senses, causing the luster of my light in you to dim, the sparkle to fade. Come stand in my presence, let my breath blow over you removing the film of the world from you, that my glory in you will glisten as dew drops in the bright morning sun. Let Wisdom guide you, truth be your standard, holiness your goal.
am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, but you already know this, that is why your heart seeks after me as it does. Your heart longs to be where I am, with me – in my presence. Let your heart run to me, don’t try to restrain it; come along with it, sit with me, let me tell you who I really am, not just the stories you’ve heard, there is so much more. I am not black-and-white and two-dimensional, I am alive in living color and multifaceted. Come closer, look and see, listen with your heart and know me, really know me. I am just waiting for you to see all there is of me. You won’t be disappointed – you’ll be like a child in a candy shop, amazed at all there is to see and experience. You’ve tasted and seen that I am good, but just wait, there is so much more. Come.
ld, do not be anxious, I am right here, rest in me. Come away with me, let the current cares be set aside for a little while so you can listen to me. Let your spirit be still, trust in me and lean not on your own understanding. Remember, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the answers you seek are only found in me. Seek me to find them , be patient for the coming answer. Abide in me, abide in my peace. Striving is counterproductive, it stirs you up causing restlessness. Be still, be quiet and focus on me. Breakthrough will come, it will burst forth as the rising sun at the dawning of a new day. I am the Light dispelling the dark , illuminating the truth, showing the way.
You are my betrothed, the one I love and gave so much for. You were worth the price, every drop, every stripe, every nail. My heart is pierced when the one I love turns away, far greater than any Roman sword could. My love for you so great, so strong. You are the reason I came, suffered and died, why I rose – that we could be together now and for eternity. Take my hand, come close, hear my heartbeat – it beats with a melody of love for you.
Beyond the Silver Coin 