howdy. so we are here in Austin, Texas, again–for a short spell before we head up to visit family for the holidays. Took us awhile to connect to the e-world. We had a smoked-texas-thanksgiving at our friend Erika’s home in Houston. Her generous parents made a feast for an army–I will never forget the smell of mesquite smoke wafting over us as we slept. One sign you are in Texas is you get barbecue on Thanksgiving. Another sign is that they are still air conditioning every indoor place here and it’s December. Even if it’s 60 degrees outside we gotta have airconditioning inside.
God is teaching us how to build, which is funny because neither one of us are builders. We both like to bless things that are already in motion or are beginning to be in motion. We both like to initiate, but He is taking us into later stages of His buildings. During Ezra and Nehemiah’s time, the building needs were so great that the prophets were employed with hammer and nail. “Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them” (Ezra 5:2). This kind of sticks out on its own–normally prophets stick to listening, and then delivering encouragement and sometimes even blueprints. That’s enough work as it is. In this season the needs of crossing the Jordan are so great, we are all coming out with our tool belts on! Even little ole’ me has to be a warrior (and I always say to Him, ‘I’m a lover, not a fighter!’).
So this new project is one–a contemplative space where we are learning about celtic spirituality. The first thing He started showing me here was a series of bowls of offerings that people would receive on the way in and the way out. So our first purchases in austin were all kinds of blue and green bowls. Nothing in them yet, except the bowl near the door which has thyme–traditionally the gift of courage and hope to soldiers on their way to battle.
And two, it is about harvest in Austin. People here are glowing so brightly there are obvious even to those who don’t normally “evangelize.” It’s like they ripened on their own and we are here to gratefully watch and help in bringing these tender levites and strong warriors into their long-desired home of the Great King Jesus.
