Know-Love-Obey God

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The statement is true: if I seek the Lord, I will find Him. I found Him that cold day.

On a cold day the boys wanted to play and run at the park. Being a fair-weather athlete, I did not. It was the kind of cold that made your breath visible, the kind that made you want to see your breath. Tight-lipped, I breathed hot and moist to fill my mouth cavity, then opened and dropped my jaw like they teach you in choir practice. I released it all—Hhhh-ah-hhhh!—and I saw my breath. It was a cold day.

Yet mothers must make sacrifices, so I gave a farewell glance to my rocking chair and Charles Schulz biography. Three boys and I bundled up and walked the quarter mile downhill to the park.

Like the predictable and annoying airport announcements I regularly warned, “Icy spot here! Don’t slip!” Crusty snow still covered the sidewalks, and we crunched footprints like Peter in The Snowy Day, with our toes pointing out (like this) and our toes pointing in (like that).

At the park we saw the expected. Snow covered the big sandbox playground. The boys loved it and explored the familiar slides and steps made novel and new by the snow. I left to find a not-so-snowy path and did my thing.

It was my time to work on memory verses—John, chapter 15. With mittened hands in my pockets and my beanie pulled down over my ears, I spoke out loud.

“I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser . . .”

I use the repetition of Scripture memory as meditation time, so as I spoke the words I also meditated on the meaning.

Though the vocal-cord vibrations were mine, the words are those of Jesus.

In the cold air, a sudden heat filled me. The words are those of Jesus.

These very words I speak—here, now, today—the Lord spoke. The language was different, but The Word is the same.

The same.

Suddenly I walked hallowed ground and drew holy breath. Deep awe caused me to repeat the words more slowly. I meditated on the truth: Jesus walked this earth and breathed air molecules created by His own hand, and He said the very words I now recite.

“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” The words come out of my own mouth and appear tangibly—hot, living breath in the crisp winter air. Jesus.

Not only during Christmas do I seek Jesus. I seek Him whenever I memorize the Word.

Again I have found that the statement is true: if I seek the Lord, I will find Him. I found Him that cold day.

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

- Jeremiah 29:13