zipped up and dusty.

 "I have to apologize...I haven't seen you very much.  I've been busy and life is hectic.  It seems I can't find time for myself, much less, YOU!  But I THINK about finding some time for just the 2 of us and I know that it will be worth it when I do!  Maybe I should schedule a date in my book and
 then find a place without people so we can visit?"

(I received the above comments in my email, along with these great images of a dusty, zipped up Bible.
After I sorda got permission to share it with you, 
I decided that I of course needed to respond with a few words too..)

I have been there. 

Buried in life up to my eyeballs. 

When life seems to be going at mock 10

 and you can't just scream 

"STOP! I WANT OFF!!" 

I have been there, feeling like God is so far away.

How could He possibly want to spend time with me? 

my thoughts consumed me with desire.

a desire to be close.

yet, there was always something in the way.

oh that it could be as simple as dust.

however, frequently it's the zipper too.

Hiding what i need.

buried. locked away.

this image, and your words. 

touched my soul.

cried out to me to pray for you.

but what could I offer you worth any value

other than the Words of the Father?

"The Lord God is in your midst,

 a mighty one who will save."

Zephaniah 3:17a

Hold on.. 

He is in your midst...

when you are buried 

wherever you are, 

whatever your doing, 

whatever your not doing. 

He is there. 

Waiting for you to dust off your heart, 

unzip your soul,

and let Him fill it. 

breathed on.

"Out of the south comes the storm,

 And out of the north the cold.

"From the breath of God ice is made,

And the expanse of the waters is frozen. 

Job 37:9-10 (NASB)

waiting well.

She was old, and wrinkly. A widow at a very early age, married just seven years to her husband. Her heart then captured by the One who would come and save her. She spent hours, fasting and praying. Watching. Waiting for Him. Her Savior. The One. They say she must have been 103 years old. Her name was Anna.

Anna was a devout woman of prayer. She spent all her time in worship. Constantly obedient. Constantly waiting.


So when God wanted to bless someone for obedience, he looked and saw her. It makes me smile when I think of God watching His sweet aged Anna kissing His only son on his cheek.  I just bet there wasn't a dry eye in the place.


Anna knew and believed that God would come to save her. She believed that, and she acted on that belief. Many years she waited. Many years she prayed, and God delighted in her heart, and blessed her.


If Anna was here today, she'd no doubt tell you that it was worth it, The waiting. The watching, and then finally the  blessing. God allowed Anna to be a part of something much bigger than her, all because she was obedient daily in prayer for so many years. 


Anna is evidence that if you wait well, God's blessings will over flow your life, and you too will say..."That was worth it." to anyone who will listen.  

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-37

When I look a little deeper at this wonderful woman of God. I find that she is from the tribe of Asher. This particular tribe was one of several that returned from their idolatry when our good friend Hezekiah started observing the Passover in Jerusalem. I'm again amazed at the wonder of God's provision to my soul.  This guy is everywhere!! 

asking the impossible.

HEY!! Smile! noooo not like that..

now faces together!

come on! mom's getting impatient

oh man, now I'm not ready.

20 minutes and 400 images later... finally.