Beautiful Bouquet of Blue Butterflies!

Automatic obedience?  I’m a work in progress and a tad bit slow, but that’s what makes my gifts extraordinaire!  Those golden nuggets strategically placed just awaiting my presence makes this journey so exhilarating.  I am nothing short of a little girl skipping merrily along with my Easter basket in tote hunting for those hidden treasures my Lord has placed along the pathway just for me.  He loves my excitement as I squeal with delight as I find them, just like any good father would when blessing His children.

This morning I was challenged by my Lord during quiet time to embrace a time-out by hiking to clear my head and encounter His beauty and promises through nature.  I wrestled with Him through excuses like, “With my maxed-out day, you want me to go hiking?  What about my high pain level?”  Through my typical Tammy Tantrum and objections, I happened to shrug with an attitude to boot demanding, “I better see my rare and beautiful blue butterflies then.” 

Call me a spoiled brat!  I am and so PROUD OF IT!  Here my Lord asks me to take a break from all the demands vying for my attention and my spoiled and pathetic attitude barters with the Lord God Almighty demanding this encounter with MY (me-me-me) rare and beautiful blue butterflies that I haven’t seen in years.  My daddy knows what these butterflies mean to me, much like He knows the joy and peace I receive when He paints those magnificent portraits at sunset in the sky, JUST FOR ME!

These absent blue butterflies guided me quite a few years back on the Ravine trails that brought hope and assurance at a time sojourning this side of heaven crossed roads with an uncertain pathway that I needed clarification on.  Being aligned with His will is vital during a time when significant decisions are needed.  My faith and Spirit residing within me knew exactly what it needed for clarification:  “Just follow the blue monarch butterfly.” 

I did.  That obedience led me to one blue butterfly that guided me to another blue one that was stuck in the mud.  The amazement was that there were over 50 other blue butterflies just waiting for it to be released nearby.  This community of butterflies surrounded this one stuck beauty and refused to leave until the meticulous use of leaves pried it from the mud.  Talk about splendor as I sat and watched a bouquet of blue butterflies emerging from the ground I was sitting on.

Each step began with pain and a lot of grumbling, but once the tunes were on and I started worshiping the Lord, my mind started clearing and I watched nature blossom before my very eyes.  I was no longer rushed, just enchanted.  The crisp coolness from the gentle breeze excited my senses along with the fragrance that the orange blossoms offered as I skipped joyfully along with awe and praise.  Those initial grumblings were replaced with shouts of joy as I praised my daddy for this gift.

Praise not only changes our attitude, but it ushers down the presence of the Almighty and turns our gong sounds into sweet lyrics towards God that proclaim how amazing He works.  He not only blesses me with the road in which to take, answered prayer; but He affords me the luxury to speak life into a few of my beautiful girlfriends who are going through really hard and trying times right now.

My girlfriends have honored and graced me with complete trust where their bleeding and tattered hearts are exposed and shared with my heart for consolation.  I know their pain.  I can remember that pain.  Those sobs of anguish and convulsions of deep fears and despair that pour out of their tender hearts echos pain I once walked through and was graciously delivered from.

Beautiful Beloved, God sees you and hears you.  Your world hasn’t fallen apart, it is falling into place.  I know you are feeling blue right now, and I wish so compassionately that I could take your pain away.  But what I can offer you is to remind you how loved you are, continue to offer you a shoulder to lean on, a warm heart filled with lots of hugs and love, and a quiet presence to continue to allow you to cry, be prayed over, and supported as you’re surrounded by beauty and hope.

Don’t forget to cleave to the Truths found in the Word.  You were created and designed by God for His glory (Isaiah 43:7) and you are His masterpiece and work of art (Ephesians 2:10) so do not lose heart.  He is reaching down to help you get back up and fly, beautiful blue you.  Meditate on Psalm 116:1-7 as God bends down to deliver you:

I love the Lord, for He heard my voice;

He heard my cry for mercy.

Because He turned His ear to me,

I will call on Him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me,

the anguish of the grave came upon me;

I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:

“O Lord, save me.”

The Lord is gracious and righteous;

our God is full of compassion.

The Lord protects the simplehearted;

when I was in great need, He saved me.

Be at rest once more, O my soul,

for the Lord has been good to you.

Praise the Lord, Beautiful Blue You.

He Hears You and Will Deliver You!