There was a young girl proudly standing on the top of a mountain. She could see for miles in every direction- from where she had just come from and where she was headed. The sun was shining and her destination was only two more ridges beyond. She thought to herself "I've finally come to the top of this mountain and I have a vision of my destination! I can see it! Now if I just cross through two more valleys and two more mountain peaks I will be there!"
She descended from the peak and into the first valley. Rushes of cold wind whipped through the rocks on either side. The lower she traveled the darker it grew. The sun now became completely blocked out. Sliding rocks and jagged drops frightened her and with each slip her confidence waned.
The girl couldn't turn back but felt paralyzed by fear to move forward. Darkness covered the valley. She huddled between two big rocks and shivered as the night sounds tormented her. "Why didn't I stay on the mountain top? I don't think I can make it up this next ridge without falling. I'm scared Lord why did you have to put valleys of darkness, danger and difficulties between me and my destination?" she thought out loud.
A warm breeze enveloped the girl as she cried in the dark. "I am with you, I will never leave you or forsake you. You can't see me but I've sent The Helper to you. He's been with you this whole way. He will be with you through this valley and the mountain tops until the end when you do see me." A beautiful voice replied. He continued "You thought when you could see what was before you on the mountain top that you were close to your destination, but I assure you that even here in the valley although it may not look it, you are closer to me than you ever have been before."
The girl began crying, pleading with the invisible voice "Lord, please just take me to my destination, fly me over these valleys and ridges. I'm weak. I'm afraid and I don't have what it takes to go through them!"
The kind voice answered "No, you are not as strong as you will be when this journey is over. This is what I meant by taking up your cross and following me. This is sharing in my suffering and it's the only way you will ever truly know me. You may feel rejection, humiliation and loneliness on this journey but do not despair. Remember, accepting this cross and following me is one in the same with taking my yoke upon you that is easy and light. You will feel the pain of the valleys, but you will also have the strength to scale these mountains. You will not fall. You will reach me and I will be your reward. Will you trust me and accept this difficult journey?"
"Be it done to me as you say. I've tasted your love and it is worth this pain. If to know you I must go through valleys as well mountain tops, I will. I trust you." The girl replied. The warm wind was gone and the chill returned. The girls physical body shivered but her heart was aflame. The most beautiful voice of her Beloved spoke to her in the valley and it would sustain her until the next mountain peak when she could see her destination again.
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Remember when you are in a valley, you are closer to Him than you have ever been. Savor His love and promises that will sustain you in the dark times until your next "mountain top experience". And know the reward of becoming more and more acquainted with the love and provision of Jesus through the valleys is worth the cost of carrying your cross and following Him.
CLOSER lyrics by Lara Landon"I'm getting closer, closer to you LordI haven't seen youbut I know I know you moreI keep on walkingstill have miles to gobut as I look back on my long and narrow roadI'm getting… Closer"
Video Link: http://youtu.be/UwKw_dPEA9Q
Embed: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UwKw_dPEA9Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Showing posts with label beloved. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beloved. Show all posts
Thursday, April 19, 2012
"I'm Getting Closer"_ Lara Landon Blog and Music Video
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Song Story: BELOVED
Ok where do I start? Many of you know these songs already but if you don't I have sooo much to say.
Basically, my songs are me. They've come from my most intimate struggles with who I am, what I'm doing, what I'm worth, where I've gone wrong and how my life and mistakes have been redeemed again and again by the love of God.
I'm grateful that by being vulnerable and telling the truth, people have been touched. Since the release of my first album "Beloved"- which these songs all came from- I've received literally thousands of emails and messages from people, especially about the song "Beloved".
Well let me tell you, when I wrote it I had no idea that would happen. I was in college, away from home for the first time. It was cold out and I would go to be alone in practice rooms at my college. Night after night I'd play and sing ideas into a little hand held recorder. One night- as if by magic or as if a gift from God came down. I started singing "I'm His Beloved and He's mind- Nothing can separate, no space, no time" The words, chords and the melody simultaneously. If you knew me, and how I so questioned God- you would understand that such a statement was not usual for me to be able to express.
I have no doubt God was delivering a message to me and He's delivered that message through me (and many other believers) only by his mercy. The message I was to sing time and time again, from one side of the country to the other, in churches big and small, in the studio, and alone in my practice room. See, I think God had me write and sing this because He knew I'd have to say it over and over again. Maybe I'd really get it. He loves me.
Since then, I've found it and I've lost it and I've gone forward and I've gone backward but the phrase "I'm His Beloved and He is mine" is now my epitaph. It's my perspective, my true North- it's the knowledge that guides me back to the path to life.
Oh that you would sing it as your own phrase. That's what I wish for you.
I made this video without realizing the significance of the white dress in the video and the romantic feel it would take on. It's of course reminiscent of a bride and a wedding. He is the groom and we are the Bride- we are His and He is ours. Not because we were worthy but because He makes us worthy by association with Himself.
Basically, my songs are me. They've come from my most intimate struggles with who I am, what I'm doing, what I'm worth, where I've gone wrong and how my life and mistakes have been redeemed again and again by the love of God.
I'm grateful that by being vulnerable and telling the truth, people have been touched. Since the release of my first album "Beloved"- which these songs all came from- I've received literally thousands of emails and messages from people, especially about the song "Beloved".
Well let me tell you, when I wrote it I had no idea that would happen. I was in college, away from home for the first time. It was cold out and I would go to be alone in practice rooms at my college. Night after night I'd play and sing ideas into a little hand held recorder. One night- as if by magic or as if a gift from God came down. I started singing "I'm His Beloved and He's mind- Nothing can separate, no space, no time" The words, chords and the melody simultaneously. If you knew me, and how I so questioned God- you would understand that such a statement was not usual for me to be able to express.
I have no doubt God was delivering a message to me and He's delivered that message through me (and many other believers) only by his mercy. The message I was to sing time and time again, from one side of the country to the other, in churches big and small, in the studio, and alone in my practice room. See, I think God had me write and sing this because He knew I'd have to say it over and over again. Maybe I'd really get it. He loves me.
Since then, I've found it and I've lost it and I've gone forward and I've gone backward but the phrase "I'm His Beloved and He is mine" is now my epitaph. It's my perspective, my true North- it's the knowledge that guides me back to the path to life.
Oh that you would sing it as your own phrase. That's what I wish for you.
I made this video without realizing the significance of the white dress in the video and the romantic feel it would take on. It's of course reminiscent of a bride and a wedding. He is the groom and we are the Bride- we are His and He is ours. Not because we were worthy but because He makes us worthy by association with Himself.
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