A Son's Birthday

Early this moring I was awakened with a very powerful sense of the Lord's presence as I was coming out of my sleep. Kris sensed something was going on with me and I told her the Lord was speaking to me about Brady. We were to celebrate his 20th birthday this afternoon. At this stage in my own spiritual life I have learned not to "quench" these stirrings from God (as Paul and many other Christian theologians have written about and warned against). I got up to seek God (much like Samuel was instructed by Eli). What you find below are God's "birthday greetings" to Brady. I have shared them with him and now with you, with his pernmission.

Kristen and I include this on our blog cite because Kris believes these words, although given to Brady, speak to his generation ("20 somethings") in many ways. I do not want to say anything more at this time, perhaps at a later date. Please pray for our family (Bill, Kris, Emily, Brady and Kelly) as you feel led. Kris joins me in the conviction that God is moving strongly with us, awkening both of us to dorment areas in our lives, building a stronger marriage and seeking hard after God on the behalf of our children. Thank you for pausing to read this posting........

The Lord says, “You are right when you say, ‘I am not alone’”. Yet for a time, the safety of a familiar coastland was out of your view. All you could hear was the crashing of waves, indeed your life, on a distant shore. I was still your God in your aloneness, even though you left me. You ran wild. I chased after you. I tried to reach you through the love of those around you but you were blind. I called to you but you would not listen. When evening would come and darkness enter like an unwanted intruder and when tears became your only friends—
I was with you even when you felt most alone.

The Lord says, “You are right when you say, ‘I am not alone’”. Like Jacob (a deceiver) and Peter (a denier) and Thomas (a doubter) I caught them all and today I reach for you, Brady. From this year on, you and I will be lost in each other’s aloneness. I, like you, know aloneness, friendlessness and, being misunderstood. Our relationship will have a closeness that neither of us has known but a closeness that we both have longed for. Today, the celebration of the day of your birth, has been ordained for your mind to clear. The clouds surrounding your thoughts will burn away but know, I am in the clouds, too! You will understand and see me in new ways. You will have new thoughts--dwell on them, talk to me about them, write your new thoughts down and share them with others but only with people, who you know have known the same aloneness that you and I know. Brady, do not run from these new thoughts because I am the author and finisher of the stirrings in your mind.

The Lord says “You are right when you say, ‘I am not alone’”. Do not run from the friends who love you—I have carefully placed them in your life. They have protected you from much harm (the harm I speak of neither you nor your friends is unaware of). When the darkness of friendship comes around you again, and it will, know I am with you. In these times, when you feel as if you have lost your way, I will lead US out. I long to be with you. I want to be your friend. Do not run from me again. I trust you and love you very much. The deep cavity of your sensitive heart, like the undertow beneath my mighty oceans will be filled with a love that you have never known. Brady, the safe and familiar coastland that you have waited to see and, have cried out for, is within your view. Think about the words I have spoken to you today. Talk to me about what I have spoken to you. And know, “You are right when you say, ‘I am not alone.’”